Taylor Swift Performs “The Fate of Ophelia” Live for First Time at 2026 Academy Museum Gala

Taylor Swift performed “The Fate of Ophelia” live for the first time at the 2026 Academy Museum Gala. The 36-year-old singer played the sixth annual fundraiser at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on Saturday (Oct. 17), where her set also included several of her best-known songs.

In videos shared online, Swift wears a shimmery, dark blue floor-length gown while performing “The Fate of Ophelia.” The track comes from her 2025 chart-topping album The Life of a Showgirl. It spent 10 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, the longest run at No. 1 for any of her singles.

Conan O’Brien introduced Swift and described her as “John, Paul, George and Ringo all in one.” The Grammy winner then performed “I Knew It, I Knew You,” her original song from the Toy Story 5 soundtrack, along with “Blank Space” and “Love Story.”

The set was Swift’s first public performance since her August appearance at the Grammy Museum. There she performed her music and held a conversation with Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr.

The private concert was announced earlier in October. The gala honored Charlize Theron, Colman Domingo and filmmaker-composer John Carpenter. Co-chairs Tom Ford, Robert Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw also attended.

“I Knew It, I Knew You” continues to generate Oscar buzz as a best original song contender. Swift previously performed it at the animated film’s world premiere in June. At the Grammy Museum in August, she worked it into a piano mashup with “August” and “All Too Well.”

Earlier in the evening, Swift walked the red carpet in a strapless pale blue Dior gown. She attended alone because her husband, Travis Kelce, was preparing for the Kansas City Chiefs’ game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday (Oct. 18).

Source: Billboard